Tanya Chutkan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tanya Chutkan
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia | |
| Assumed office June 5, 2014 |
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| Appointed by | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tanya Sue Chutkan
July 5, 1962 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | George Washington University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (JD) |
Tanya Sue Chutkan (born July 5, 1962) is an American lawyer and judge. She serves as a United States district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. This court handles important legal cases in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
Judge Chutkan became well-known as the judge for a major case involving former U.S. President Donald Trump. The case was about his actions related to the 2020 United States presidential election and the events of January 6, 2021. The case did not go to trial and was closed after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
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Early Life and Schooling
Tanya Chutkan was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 5, 1962. Her father, Winston Chutkan, was a doctor, and her mother, Noelle, was a famous dancer. Her mother's father, Frank Hill, was an important political figure in Jamaica. Through her mother's family, Judge Chutkan is a cousin of John Barnes, a famous soccer player from England.
She moved to the United States for college and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University in 1983. After that, she went to the University of Pennsylvania Law School to become a lawyer. She graduated in 1987 with a Juris Doctor, which is the degree a person needs to practice law.
Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Judge Chutkan worked for several private law firms. From 1991 to 2002, she worked as a public defender in Washington, D.C. Public defenders are lawyers who represent people who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer for a court case.
Later, she joined the law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner, where she became a partner. There, she worked on complex cases, including antitrust cases. These cases deal with making sure companies compete fairly with each other.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 2013, President Barack Obama chose Tanya Chutkan to become a federal judge. The United States Senate had to approve his choice. After a series of hearings and votes, the Senate confirmed her with a vote of 95–0. She officially became a judge on June 5, 2014.
Federal judges are appointed for life. They play a very important role in the U.S. legal system by making sure laws are applied fairly.
Important Cases as a Judge
As a judge, Tanya Chutkan has made decisions on many important and interesting cases.
Copyright of Safety Codes
In 2017, a non-profit group called Public.Resource.Org was sued for posting building and fire safety codes online for free. The groups that created the codes said they owned the copyright. They argued that the codes should not be shared without permission.
Judge Chutkan first ruled against the non-profit group. However, a higher court asked her to look at the case again. In 2022, she made a new ruling that allowed many of the safety codes to be shared online under "fair use" rules, which allow for the limited use of copyrighted material.
Special Education Rules
In 2019, Judge Chutkan ruled that the U.S. Department of Education had illegally delayed new rules for special education. These rules, called "Equity in IDEA," were designed to make sure students of all races were treated fairly in special education programs.
Her decision said the department did not give a good reason for the delay. She pointed out the delay could harm students and their families.
Case of Maria Butina
In 2019, Judge Chutkan handled the case of Maria Butina. Butina was a Russian citizen who was accused of working for the Russian government in the U.S. without telling the American government. Judge Chutkan sentenced her to 18 months in prison.
January 6 Capitol Attack Cases
Judge Chutkan has overseen the cases of more than 30 people involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. News reports have noted that she has often given sentences that included jail time to those found guilty.
In 2021, she also ruled against former President Donald Trump's request to keep his White House records secret from a government committee that was investigating the attack.
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Ruling
On February 18, 2025, Judge Chutkan made a decision about the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. A group of states had asked her to block the department from accessing government employee information.
She decided not to issue an emergency order to stop DOGE. She said the states had not proven that immediate harm would occur. However, she noted that their concerns about the department's power were serious questions that could be addressed in future court cases.
Personal Life
Judge Chutkan was married to Peter A. Krauthamer, who was also a judge in Washington, D.C. They have two sons.
In 2008 and 2009, she donated money to Barack Obama's presidential campaign before she became a judge.
See also
- List of African-American federal judges
- List of African-American jurists
- List of Jamaican Americans
